Karl von Clausewitz

Karl von Clausewitz (1780-1831)

Prussian general

"Four elements make up the climate of war: danger, exertion, uncertainty and chance."

"In War the result is never final."

"No Battle Plan Survives First Contact With the Enemy."

"Politics is the womb in which war develops - where its outlines already exist in their hidden rudimentary form, like the characteristics of living creatures in their embryos."

"The Conquerer is always a lover of peace: he would prefer to take over our country unopposed."

"Theory should be study, not doctrine."

"War is an act of force to compel our enemy to do our will."

"War is merely the continuation of policy by other means."

"War is nothing but a duel on a larger scale."

"War is such a dangerous business that the mistakes that come from kindness are the very worst."

"War is very simple, but in War the simplest things become very difficult."

"To introduce into the philosophy of war a principle of moderation would be an absurdity - war is an act of violence pushed to its utmost bounds."